Written Answers

Tuesday 28 November 2000

Scottish Executive

Airports

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote a Scottish airport as an international hub airport.

Sarah Boyack: The development of air services, which is the key to the promotion of an airport as a hub, is a matter for airlines and airport operators.

Dental Care

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that there is adequate provision for new NHS patients to register with dentists in Banff and Buchan.

Susan Deacon: The Executive’s Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland outlines a series of measures to improve oral health and access to NHS dental services throughout Scotland. An implementation support group has been set up to support and prioritise the proposals in the plan. The group had its first meeting on 27 November.

  Currently, it is open to Primary Care NHS Trusts to apply to Scottish Ministers for approval to appoint salaried dentists in areas where there are gaps in provision of NHS dental services. In addition, dentists wishing to set up or expand NHS practices in areas of unmet patient demand, including Banff and Buchan, or high oral health need may apply for grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.

Dental Care

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists there are in Banff and Buchan.

Susan Deacon: The number of NHS dentists in Banff and Buchan is not available centrally. NHS dentists would include those providing NHS general, community and hospital dental services. Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust maintains a list of the dentists providing NHS general dental services (GDS) in the Grampian area. Further details of the number of GDS dentists can be obtained from the Trust.

Dental Care

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on a waiting list to register with an NHS dentist in Banff and Buchan.

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is in Banff and Buchan to register with an NHS dentist.

Susan Deacon: Individual general dental practitioners who are independent contractors may hold lists of patients wishing to be treated in their practices but no lists are held centrally.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the level of unemployment in Scotland to UK levels or below.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A comprehensive range of policy measures is in place to reduce unemployment in Scotland, including the establishing of Local Economic Forums, the New Futures Fund and a Review of the Training for Work Programme all of which aim to ensure that unemployed people can play an effective part in Scotland’s economic future.

  To directly encourage the creation of new employment opportunities and safeguard existing jobs in areas of relatively weaker economic performance, the Regional Selective Assistance and Invest for Growth grant schemes offer financial support to businesses located in the Assisted Areas. The Scottish Executive is also contributing £454 million in supporting the Enterprise Network.

  Figures to the end-August show that 33,000 young people and long-term unemployed have gained employment through the New Deal in Scotland.

  Youth unemployment (18-24s unemployment for six months or more) in Scotland was around 3,000 in October 2000. This was 67% lower than in 1998. Long-term unemployment (over 25s who have been unemployment for two years or more) in Scotland was 11,000 in October 2000. This was 21% lower than October 1998, but has almost halved since 1997.

  I also refer Mr Gibson to the reply given to question S1W-11148.

Ferry Services

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Scotland Office about the availability of funding to support the Euro ferry proposed for Rosyth and what the outcome was of any such discussions.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The proposed ferry service for Rosyth is intended to operate on a purely commercial basis, with no recourse to public funds to meet operating costs. No discussions have therefore been held with the Scotland Office with regard to the availability of funding.

Fisheries

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place at the recent meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels.

Rhona Brankin: I attended the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 17 November as part of the UK delegation.

  The council discussed the future policy for management of fleet capacity, building on the Commission’s mid-term review of the operation of the current Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP IV). The UK argued the need for maintaining and strengthening a range of controls in order to bring fishing effort into better balance with fish stocks. We also argued that, given the current over-capacity in the fleet, grants for constructing vessels are inappropriate. The Commission will include fleet management among the issues in its Green Paper next spring on the revision of the Common Fisheries Policy.

  The Commission reported recent scientific advice that key cod, whiting and hake stocks were close to collapse. The UK delegation agreed that the situation was serious and supported the Commission’s approach that urgent action was needed to ensure effective recovery plans were introduced for 2001. We welcomed the Commission’s intention of looking at a mix of measures to aid recovery and the fact that the fishing industry was already being involved in developing these measures.

  The council discussed the impact of fuel price rises on the fishing sector. We strongly supported the Commission in opposing national operating subsidies and welcomed the Commission’s statement that measures taken by member states had to comply with state aid rules, and that they were taking action as appropriate to this end.

  The council also discussed a Commission proposal for a three-year continuation of Community financial support for fisheries enforcement. Final decisions on the proposal will be made in December. The council agreed to a two-year rollover of existing arrangements for control and enforcement action under NEAFC in the North East Atlantic. I argued that, while we could accept these proposals, the Community should take a larger role in carrying out control in international waters under the responsibility of regional fisheries organisations. I pushed for decisions to be taken on this and other control measures by June 2001. I also pressed the Commission to seek effective controls on over-fishing of Rockall haddock at the NEAFC annual meeting.

Health

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has, or intends to compile, any data on the number of people ordinarily resident in Scotland who have received NHS medical treatment in the North of England in the last three years.

Susan Deacon: Information on residents of Scotland treated in the North of England is not available from routine central returns. We are in the process of establishing a routine exchange of information between the Information & Statistics Division in Scotland and the Department of Health in England for residents of Scotland treated in England and residents of England treated in Scotland, but the results of this exercise are unavailable at present.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Health Education Board for Scotland will be integrated into a new joint structure with the establishment of the Public Health Institute of Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Public Health Institute’s identity and role will be separate from, but complementary to, those of the Health Education Board for Scotland and other relevant organisations.

Health

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Tayside University NHS Trust regarding the retention of maternity services at Perth Royal Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: In early 2001, the Scottish Executive will be publishing a Framework for Maternity Services which will help guide the NHS in the planning and delivery of maternity services across Scotland.

  It is primarily a matter for health boards, working with NHS Trusts, to determine the appropriate pattern of health services in their areas.

  I have made clear in my discussion with local leaders of the NHS in Tayside that I expect them to develop proposals for the future configuration of NHS services in Tayside which are robust and which effectively address local needs.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review prosecution practice and policy in the light of any recent trials.

Colin Boyd QC: The trial of David Montgomery and Andrew Coulter for the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar concluded today at the High Court in Glasgow. Neither was convicted of the murder. Andrew Coulter was convicted of assaulting Surjit Singh Chhokar, while acting along with Ronnie Coulter, by repeatedly striking him on the body with a piece of wood and metal. He was also convicted of a charge of housebreaking at Mr Chhokar’s house and theft of a cooker and giro cheque and of a charge of uttering in connection with the giro cheque. He received a total sentence of 15 months detention, consecutive to the sentence that he is currently serving.

  David Montgomery was acquitted. I acknowledge that mistakes were made in this case, particularly in relation to the level of support and information given to the late Mr Chhokar’s family. I am determined that all possible lessons will be learnt and I am today setting up independent inquiries to look into two separate aspects of the case.

  Sir Anthony Campbell, of the Northern Ireland Judiciary, will carry out an independent examination of the Crown’s decision making following the death of Surjit Singh Chhokar, including the decision to indict Ronald Coulter separately from Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery. He will have the opportunity to interview all staff in the PF office at Hamilton and Crown Office as well as Advocate Deputes and Law Officers who dealt with the case. Sir Anthony will make such findings and recommendations for changes in practice and procedure as he sees fit. Sir Anthony’s findings will be published.

  Raj Jandoo, Advocate and Deputy Chair of the Scottish Executive Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering Group, will review and report on the liaison arrangements between the police, the Procurator Fiscal Service, and the Crown Office and the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar. As part of his remit, Dr Jandoo will consider and complete an internal report prepared by the Crown Office. He will take evidence from the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar, their representatives and from the police. He will also consult the Commission for Racial Equality and Victim Support Scotland. While most of the inquiry will be conducted in private, there will also be a public dimension to consider draft recommendations. Dr Jandoo’s findings and recommendations for action will also be published.

  The Deputy First Minister will be inviting the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering Group, which comprises representatives of the police, Crown Office, Commission for Racial Equality and independent members, to oversee the implementation of Dr Jandoo’s recommendations.

  A number of measures have already taken place to implement the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in Scotland, including the production of a Racial Diversity Strategy and Guidance Manual by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Crown Office guidance prosecution of racist crimes and a programme of anti-racist training for Crown Office staff. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary has carried out a thematic inspection on the police and race issues in Scotland which will be published in the New Year. The steering group has reviewed the Executive’s action plan and their report will also be published shortly. We intend to build on this progress that has already been made in taking forward the lessons to be learnt from the Chhokar case.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what audit criteria will be applied in the forthcoming national audit of museums and, in particular, how will these be applied to industrial museums.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority will be given to dealing with industrial museums in the forthcoming national audit of museums and when it anticipates the audit of the main industrial museums will be completed.

Allan Wilson: The procedures and criteria for the national audit are currently being developed on behalf of the Executive by the Scottish Museums Council. These procedures and criteria will be applied to industrial museums as the first priority.

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the higher business rate poundage in Scotland as compared to England has had on new business formation, growth and survival.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The amount paid in rates is just one of many influences on the birth, growth and survival of businesses, and so extremely difficult to isolate its effect.

Ports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is or will be available to improve the infrastructure at ports and harbours.

Sarah Boyack: Assistance is available from the Executive for certain fishery-related harbour development, for pier and harbour improvements in the Highlands and Islands and from the EC through European Funds (ERDF) in eligible areas. Freight Facility Grants (FFG) can also be available for inland waterway projects and such projects can include expenditure on ports and harbours. Ports and harbours infrastructure are likely to be eligible for grants under the proposed extension of the FFG scheme to short sea and coastal shipping. Otherwise, port and harbour authorities are responsible for making their own investment decisions and raising finance.

  Estimated expenditure for the Executive’s schemes in the current financial year (2000-01) is set out below. ERDF estimated expenditure figures for ports and harbours for the current financial year are not available.

  


Fishery Harbour Grants


£250,000




Highlands & Islands 
Piers & Harbours Grant Scheme


£5,600,000




Freight Facilities 
Grant Scheme (inland waterway projects)


£150,000

Ports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated number of cruise ships visiting Leith was expected to be on completion of Ocean Terminal Complex at Leith at the time planning permission was given.

Mr Sam Galbraith: No indication is given in the report of the public local inquiry into the planning application as to the anticipated number of cruise ships.

Rail Network

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will start its public consultation on its priorities for passenger railways in Scotland in advance of issuing to the Strategic Rail Authority its directions and guidance for the renewal of the Scottish passenger rail franchise.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive’s consultation paper Strategic Priorities for Scotland’s Passenger Railway is published today. Copies are being sent to all relevant bodies and organisations.

  I am placing a copy in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. no. 9809). Additional copies are available in the Document Supply Centre.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make a site available for the testing and demonstration of wave energy production and engineering and what funding is available for the construction of such a site.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The availability of sites for wave energy production is a matter for the developers concerned and the Crown Estate Commissioner. Funding for research and development of renewable energy is a reserved matter. The funding allocated for such purposes, through the Department of Trade and Industry’s New and Renewable Energy Programme, is available for projects throughout Great Britain.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available for wave energy research on an annual basis for the next five years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Funding for research and development of renewable energy is a reserved matter. The funding allocated for such purposes, through the Department of Trade and Industry’s New and Renewable Energy Programme, is available for projects throughout Great Britain.

Small Businesses

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the target set in Scottish Enterprise’s Business Birth Rate Strategy in 1993 for Scotland to at least equal the UK average in the number of new businesses created each year per head of population by the end of the 1990s has not been achieved and what steps it will take to address this situation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The objective set by Scottish Enterprise for the Business Birth Rate Strategy was very ambitious. In early 2000 Scottish Enterprise conducted a review to consider why the target had not been achieved. This is available on their website. Their review concluded that, although the number of new businesses created per head of population remained below the UK average, there had been some improvements in the infrastructure to support new businesses and an increase in the number of people enthusiastic about starting a business, and that these changes would have effect in the longer term.

  Scottish Enterprise are about to commission an independent review of the strategy to help focus on ways to improve the strategy in the 21st century. We are also working closely with Scottish Enterprise to improve our support for the small business sector, for example through the recent introduction of the Small Business Gateway.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will tackle the low level of public awareness of the health risks of passive smoking found by the ASH Scotland/Health Education Board for Scotland survey on smoking in public places by undertaking a national public information campaign on passive smoking.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive will examine the findings of the recent survey, commissioned by HEBS and ASH (Scotland) on public perceptions of passive smoking, when they become available.

  The Executive recognises the importance for public awareness and understanding of issues surrounding passive smoking. Everyone should be able to be free from smoke and the effects of smoke wherever possible. It is important for employers, owners and managers of premises to understand these issues and to share the responsibility for creating smoke-free environments

  The Executive will consider the need for a public awareness campaign on the effects of passive smoking in the light of the results of this latest survey when known, together with the impact of the Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places and the HSE’s proposed Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking in the Workplace.

Tourism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9538 by Sarah Boyack on 28 September 2000, whether it will publish the raw evidence given to the Scott Wilson feasibility study, in particular the report by the Scottish Borders Tourist Board, and any notes from the detailed discussions held, and what the reasons are for its position in relation to the publication or otherwise of this material.

Sarah Boyack: I will arrange for a copy of the report prepared by the Scottish Borders Tourist Board (SBTB) to be made available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The information obtained in the consultants’ interviews with officers of SBTB, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Borders Enterprise is not in a publishable form.

Waste Management

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 will commence.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer Ms Cunningham to the answer I gave to question S1W-10972 on 21 November.

Scottish Parliamentary Coporate Body

Scottish Parliament Staff

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what recruitment processes are used to appoint Scottish Parliament staff and where and for how long each post created to date was advertised.

Sir David Steel: The SPCB became an employer in its own right on 1 April 2000. For staff appointed prior to that date, recruitment was conducted on behalf of the SPCB by the Scottish Office/Scottish Executive.

  All recruitment to posts in the Scottish Parliament is carried out under the principles of fair and open competition. Sixty-one new posts have been filled by external recruitment since 1 April and details requested are set out in the table below. Advertisements in the press appear for only one day in each publication; the figure in the table shows the period in which applications were able to be submitted following the advertisement. In addition, details of all posts advertised externally are published on the Parliament’s Internet site.

  


New Posts Filled 
Since 1 April 2000




Post


No. of
Posts


Where Advertised


No. of Weeks Applications




Clerk Team Leader


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Non Executive Bills Head


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Assistant Clerk


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Administrative Asst


1


Evening News


4




Researcher 


9

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Pt Cataloguer


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Finance Asst


1

 
Scotsman, Herald, 
Evening News & Job Centre


4




Reporters


5

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


4




Finance Administrator


1

 
Scotsman, Herald, 
Evening News & Job Centre


4




Finance Assistant


1

 
Scotsman, Herald, 
Evening News & Job Centre


4




Travel & Subsistence
Manager


1

 
Scotsman, Herald, 
Evening News & Job Centre


4




Travel & Subsistence
Assistant


1

 
Scotsman, Herald, 
Evening News & Job Centre


4




Typist


1

 
Evening News & 
Job Centre


4




Administrative Asst


1

 
Evening News & 
Job Centre


4




Gaelic Officer


1


Scotsman, Herald, 
West Highland Free Press, 
The Stornoway Gazette 
& An Gaidheal Ur


2




Technical Assistant


1

 
Herald & 
Scotsman


2




Senior Assistant Clerk


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


3




IT Purchasing Manager


1

 
Herald & 
Scotsman


3




Customer Services
Manager


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Customer Support
Manager


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Helpdesk Officers


2

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Network Support Officer


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Helpdesk Assistant


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




PC Support


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Telecomms Assistant


1

 
Scotsman, Herald 
& Computer Weekly


3




Web Assistant


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


3




Electronic Sources 
Specialist


1

 
Herald, Scotsman 
& Library Record 
Association


3




Head of Corporate Policy


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


2




Corporate Policy Team 
Leader


1

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


2




Sub-Editors 


2

 
Scotsman, Herald & 
Guardian


3




Reporters 


6

 
Scotsman, Herald & 
Guardian


3




Records Manager


1


Scotsman, Records Management Bulletin,
Information Management & Society 
of Archivists 
Career Opportunities


4




Holyrood - IT Business
Manager


1

 
Scotsman, Herald & 
Computer


3




Holyrood - IT Technical
Manager


1

 
Scotsman, Herald & 
Computer


3




Broadcasting Officers 


2

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


2




Assistant Clerks 


2

 
Scotsman & 
Herald


2




Support Assistants


4

 
Evening News & 
Job Centre


2




Number of Posts


61

Scottish Parliament Publications

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how much the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has spent to date on producing core Parliamentary publications and publishing them on the internet.

Sir David Steel: The SPCB has a contract with TSO for the provision of print and electronic information publishing services. We currently operate on a management fee basis, which includes the page layout, construction and HTML mark-up of all core parliamentary publications. There is a common production process for much of the preparation for both print and electronic publication. It is therefore not possible to identify separately the cost of publishing them on the internet.

Scottish Parliament Publications

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how many people are employed solely to produce the core parliamentary publications and how many work only on (a) internet publication and (b) paper publication.

Sir David Steel: The only staff employed solely to produce core parliamentary publications are those in the Official Report. No staff work solely on either the internet or the paper publication of core parliamentary publications.